Translation guide
The quality of being serious, sincere, and determined in purpose or effort. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various words and phrases that emphasize sincerity, seriousness, and wholeheartedness, often with cultural nuances.
Describing a person's genuine, heartfelt, and serious approach to something, without pretense.
The most common and versatile word for earnestness, implying seriousness, sincerity, and diligence. Often used to describe a person's character or attitude.
彼は真面目な人です。
He is an earnest person.
真面目に勉強しなさい。
Study earnestly.
Literally 'real sword', meaning seriousness or earnestness, often with a sense of intensity or gravity. Used when someone is deeply focused or committed.
真剣な表情で話を聞いていた。
He was listening with an earnest expression.
真剣に考えてください。
Please think about it earnestly.
Means 'serious' or 'earnest' in the sense of being genuine and not joking. Often used to ask if someone is serious about their intentions.
本気で言ってるの？
Are you serious? (Are you saying that earnestly?)
彼は本気で医者になりたいと思っている。
He earnestly wants to become a doctor.
Expressing earnestness through complete devotion or putting one's whole heart into something.
Literally 'with all one's might', this adverb/adjective describes doing something with utmost effort and earnestness. Very common in daily speech.
一生懸命働きます。
I will work earnestly (with all my might).
彼女は一生懸命に日本語を勉強している。
She is studying Japanese earnestly.
Means enthusiastic, eager, or earnest. Often used for someone who is passionately devoted to a cause, study, or activity.
A more formal and literary term for earnestness and sincerity, often used in written contexts or formal speeches.
Making a sincere and heartfelt request, often with a sense of urgency or deep feeling.
A common phrase meaning 'to earnestly hope/wish/request'. It conveys a deep, sincere desire.
ご理解いただけますよう切に願います。
I earnestly request your understanding.
Literally 'to request from the heart', this phrase emphasizes the sincerity and earnestness of a request.
心からお願いします。
I earnestly ask you (from the bottom of my heart).
While all three can translate to 'earnest' or 'serious', they have different nuances. 真面目 (majime) describes a person's general character of being serious and diligent. 真剣 (shinken) implies a focused, intense seriousness in a particular situation. 本気 (honki) questions the genuineness of one's intentions, often used to ask 'Are you serious?' or 'Do you really mean it?'
The English noun 'earnestness' is often better expressed in Japanese using adjectives or adverbial phrases rather than a direct noun equivalent. For example, instead of saying 'His earnestness is admirable,' it's more natural to say '彼の真面目さは立派だ' (kare no majime-sa wa rippa da) or simply describe the person as 真面目.
彼はとても真剣に話した。
He spoke with great earnestness.
Using the adverb 真剣に (shinken ni) to convey the manner of speaking.
彼は熱心なキリスト教徒だ。
He is an earnest Christian.
熱心に耳を傾ける。
To listen earnestly.
To approach negotiations with an earnest attitude.